Bearing mounting for earthworking roller units



July 23,1946. T; G. SCHMEISER 3 BEARING MOUNTING FOR EARTHWORKING ROLLER UNITS Filed Feb. 27, 1945 INVENTOKI T G, Schme is er.

Quiz ML Patented July 23, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BEARING MOUNTING FOR E RTHWORKING ROLLER UNITS Theodore G. Schmeiser, Fresno, Calif.

Application February 2'7, 1945, Serial No. 579,922

, 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates in general to an earth Working implement, and in particular the invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, an improved toothed roller unit adapted for use to pulverize and pack the soil in connection with the preparation and maintenance of seed beds, road and airport construction, and the like.

The present invention represents a modification of the earth working roller unit shown in my co-pending application entitled Agricultural implement, Serial N0. 534,570, filed May 8, 1944, and wherein the disclosed roller unit includes a transversely extending draft cylinder which carries, in radially loose-play relation, a plurality of toothed, soil pulverizing and compacting rings.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an earth working roller unit which includes a heavy-duty, ring supporting draft cylinder of novel design.

A further object is to provide an earth working roller unit of the type described which is provided with a unique wear ring assembly which prevents the endmost earth workingrings on the draft cylinder from running against and damaging the retaining flanges on said cylinder at the ends thereof.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an earth working roller which includes novel means for detachably connecting draft frame attachment brackets to the bearing supported end spindles of the draft cylinder, whereby said brackets, and consequently the draft frame, can be detached from the roller unit without the necessity of dismounting the spindle supporting bearings.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device, and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a foreshortened plan view of the roller unit, mainly in section and detached from the draft frame.

Figure 2 is an inner end view of one attachment bracket, detached.

Figure '3 is an outer end view of one attachment head, detached.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, the improved earth working roller unit which is the subject of this invention comprises an elongated heavy-duty ing in rigidly fixed connection between the heads 9 At each end the roller unit is provided with an axially extending spindle 4 rotatably mounted in a, combination annular and thrust bearing assembly 5 enclosed within a cage 6 flanged as at I. with said flange and cage removably secured to the corresponding head 2 by bolts 8.

Each bearing assembly and its cage projects through a central opening in the corresponding head 2, and into an inwardly extending protective cap 9.

The outer end of each spindle 4 is tapered, as at I0, and said tapered portionremovably seats in a corresponding tapered socket of a circular attachment head II, which abuts at its outer face in engagement with the central portion of a drop center attachment bracket I2. A pin I3 projects inwardly from the central portion of the attachment bracket I2 into a receiving notch I4 in the adjacent outer face of the corresponding attachment head II, whereby to prevent relative rotation between the engaged attachment head I I and the corresponding attachment bracket I2. A bolt I5 passes through central openings in the bracket I2 and head II and is thence threaded into an axial bore It in the spindle I4. 'An attachment plate or disc I1 is secured in outwardly facing relation to each attachment bracket I2 by bolts I8. Each plate or disc I! is disposed slightly outwardly of the corresponding end of the draft cylinder I, and is adapted for connection with the draft beams of a'draft frame (not shown). By reason of the particular mounting of the above attachment members with the spindles 4, it will be seen that by removal of the bolt I5, said attachment members, together with the draft frame, may be removed from the roller unit without the necessity of dismounting said spindles from corresponding bearing assemblies 5.

The draft cylinder I is surrounded from end to end by a plurality of soil pulverizing and packing rings I9, each of which include a circumferential row of outwardly projecting cultivator teeth 20. The rings I9 have an internal diameter which is substantially greater than the external'diameter of the draft cylinder I so that with advance of th roller unit the individual a thereof, conforms to ground contour and consequently produces a more effective Working and packing of the soil.

The rings [9 are held against escape from the ends of the draft cylinder I by means of the following arrangement:

Annular flanges 2i are disposed at the ends and project radially out from the draft cylinder. 3 Each annular flange includes a circular, inwardly projecting attachment collar 22; the collar' at one end of the cylinder being welded to the latter, while the collar at the other end of the cylinder removably secures the corresponding flange 2| in place by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced set screws 23.

The cylinder l carries, between each flange 2| and the adjacent earth working ring l9, a retaining and wear ring 24 ,turnabl on said cylinder, the. retaining and wearrings 24 being of an external diameter greater than the internal diameter of the rings l9, but lesser than the external diameter of the latter. It will thus be seen that the flanges 2| retain the rings 24 on the cylinder; and said latter rings in turn retain the earth working rings It against escape; the rings 24 also serving as wear rings. In order to remove the earth Working rings I 9 for replacement or repair the screws 23 are loosened, permitting of ready removal of the corresponding flange 2| and ring 24, whereupon the rings Hi can he slid ily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent is desired:

1. In a roller unit which includes a transversely extending cylinder having heads secured in upposite end portions thereof, and spindle supporting bearing assemblies mounted on each head with the spindles projecting axially outwardly; an attachment bracket corresponding to each spindle and adapted for connection to a draft frame, and means detachably connecting each bracket to the corresponding spindle; said means comprising an attachment head having a taper socket centrally therein,'the outer end of the spindle being tapered and seating in said socket, the bracket and head having flat, engaged faces, a tie bolt extending through the engaged bracket and head and threaded axially into the spindle.

THEODORE G. SCHMEISER. 

